§ Mr. KnapmanTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will call for a report from the Director General of Telecommunications providing figures, expressed in percentage terms of total calls, of failure rates of British Telecom metering equipment resulting in overcharging for telephone calls for the latest period for which figures are available(a) in the Stroud exchange area, (b) in the Sevenoaks area, and (c) nationally.
§ Mr. MaudeThe Director General of Telecommunications already takes a close interest in the accuracy of metering. On 29 June 1988, he announced the establishment of a new scheme for the approval of public telecommunications operators' metering and billing systems. Under this scheme, the British Approvals Board for Telecommunications will grant approval to systems which meet a performance standard and the British Standards Institution will undertake routine independent monitoring of quality control procedures. The scheme is currently being implemented. I understand that the director general is already considering the particular issues that my hon. Friend raises and that he will write to my hon. Friend directly once his considerations are complete.